Racor fuel filter housings still leaking

Reassembled them TWICE today. Still have an air leak on both sides. Too bad we can’t back track and have everyone redo their work! We would have to go all the way back to Huckins 😂. This boat is going to be like new by the time we get to Eastport as we will have repaired and mostly replaced just about every system we have! 

I really did blow the carbon out of her!

And onto the stern apparently. 

Docked in Cape May

More later, but we made it down the Delaware. Betsy was getting pushed around by a tailwind and outgoing tide. 

Easy 65 miles today

We are at a marina along the C&D canal. This links the Chesapeake and Delaware bays. Totally wild here with tiki bar and live music. The dock attendants were excellent and ready to help as we pulled in. The food is terrible and my draught beer was $7, but if you want to party this is your marina (The Chesapeake Inn). Note: Don’t boat in this area at night as everyone is drunk boating! 

Tomorrow we head down the Delaware to Cape May, where we will finally be forced out into the ocean swell. We have a tail wind and outgoing tide, so maybe Betsy will break a mile per gallon. Today we cruised more slowly at 15-17 knots, so we can can compare the fuel consumption when we fill up in NJ. 

New feature for the blog. BOTD (boat of the day):

I took a video too, rumbling cammed V8 or two under that hood! Will post later. Damn it sounded incredible. I was hoping he would put the hammer down when he left the marina, but I could still hear him idling as he passed under the bridge. 

I got the drone up briefly. It will require practice. Flying the drone is one thing, but also managing the camera and taking amazing shots is going to take some work. The quality is incredible. I do not look forward to video editing!

Beer

Ice cold!

Zero point four nine miles per gallon yesterday

For hire: One Ralphie Props. Will pilot your ship to the destination of your choosing in record time. Will determine exactly how fast your vessel can travel. Guaranteed to blow the carbon out of your Cummins. Don’t waste your vacation time farting along getting nowhere! 

Here is some media. The GoPro is ready to roll. Drone is next!

An old sail boat from Rockport, Maine

We were in awe of this sailboat, named "Thalia." I paced it off at around 120-150'.

It had electric stairs for the dock and a steering wheel that must have been 6' in diameter! It didn't appear as though you could see forward from the helm though. I would love to see inside this beast.

Along the waterfront there was a lighthouse prism.

Cruising up the Chesapeake

Support the economy. Burn diesel!

The Captain took a (couple of) naps while I motored up the Chesapeake. That makes Ralph the COCKSWAIN!

Well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him, or his precious Betsy and her twin Cummins! FULL STEAM AHEAD!!! Ralphie Props knows economic stimulus. He also isn't paying for the fuel ;).

This massive ship was running damn near our speed at 20-22 knots. I didn't realize these big ships were so fast. It was huge. I wondered how many gallons they were burning per hour? The smoke stack was puffing hard. I cut him off at the pass to get by, since he had to stay in the channel but 50' of water was plenty for ol' Betsy. Mooooove ship, get out the way!

When the Captain awoke from his nap, I put him to work making us some cheese and cracker snacks.

China stopped buying garbage from the U.S. a while back. This is a bigger problem than you may realize. This load appeared to be scrap metal. I love giving Z a hard time. Love my dogs tho Z!

Herrington Harbor Marina - We made it to Maryland!

We BLASTED up the Chesapeake covering 120 miles and were docked around 2pm! 20-21 knots most of the way and Betsy purred like a kitten. Water was mostly smooth outside the mouth of the Potomac River. I am now awaiting a call back from SimRad customer support to figure out why we can’t commission our autopilot. The software doesn’t seem to be recognizing the rudder input at the moment, but the navigation part of it worked great today. Zimmerman is here so more later!

This is the most we have ever been rocked on this trip. Sadly, we did it to ourselves, story  later! 

Not much action today

Well, our air in the fuel line issue for the starboard motor is resolved! As it turns out, the guys who polished the fuel in Jacksonville failed to tighten down the fittings when they finished in the tank. One side could be turned with your fingers. I'd like to offer whomever is responsible a switch kick in the nuts for the amount of time we have wasted on this over the past two weeks. Is anyone else seeing the theme here? It's incompetence. The helm still leaks, it has leaked since the guy who knew what he was doing assembled it and continues to this day. It will be taken out and rebuilt over the winter. The guy who originally installed the system failed to even include a reservoir in this hydraulic system, so I suppose when it is reinstalled we can have it done properly. A cummins expert was here today, but didn't know how to adjust the idle when I asked him about it. $174/hour and the response was "I think there is an adjustment either on or inside..." and this is where I stopped listening. They were going to look it up in a book when they got back to the shop and then call us. Still waiting on that call.

Ever see groundhog day? That is my life. I am itching to get to the part where Bill Murray throws caution to the wind and embraces his existence. I hope it is equally as blissful for me. I can take walks, but there is nowhere to go and little to see once you have taken in the waterfront and the Old Towne District. Aside from patio seating or take-out, everything is still closed for COVID.

When this trip is over, I am going to choke the first person who mentions the damn weather. I have motorcycled through flooding rain, wind storms, heat and drought with forest fires, thunder and lightning, and even snow in the mountains west of Calgary (on a sport bike no less). The Woods brothers and I did a 6000km loop through Newfoundland & Labrador last summer that necessitated dangling our bikes from a helicopter to cross a wash-out, and I don't remember a single moment where we checked let alone obsessed over the weather. Whatever happened, we were riding on.

Some neighbors in the marina ignored the small craft warning this morning and attempted to cross the Chesapeake. Apparently, the 4-5 footers turned them back. The weather didn't look that bad here in the marina. BTW- NOAA buoy app called for 1-2' waves today while BuoyWeather correctly predicted the 5' seas, so take that for what it is worth.

Well, we didn't make it far today

Wake up call is brutal when cruising. If I am supposed to have all the time in the world, why don't I get to sleep? We were off the dock by oh six hundred as planned. We made it nearly a mile in the thick fog before pulling over to drop anchor to wait for the fog to lift. A second attempt an hour later nearly got us out of Norfolk, but Captain Ralph did not want to navigate via instrumentation with limited visibility. We turned back to the marina we left and parked in the same slip.

At least I saw some more Navy ships. They certainly have an intimidating presence in this region. 

Many appear to be under construction in the river, but the triplets further out the harbor appeared vigilant!

I accidentally uploaded a photo to SeaNav while playing with the app. The demo had me in the San Francisco Bay region. I bet they have decent boating. Anybody been?

Next attraction? You guessed it... Walmart! I am considering starting a whole new blog called The Worlds of Walmarts to supplement the "People of Walmart" websites out there. I figure if I can make it raunchy enough, Amazon or another major competitor may be willing to offer sponsorship. 

No cruising today, but we are happy and healthy. I didn't step down into the engine bay once, so the day is a win! Captain Ralph made a roast in the crockpot. Don't let him cook! His mom (Nannie) overcooked everything and burned most of it to a crisp. Apparently, she passed along the talent. 

There is a small craft advisory until tomorrow night, so it looks like we will be sitting here for another day or two depending on what happens with the storm south of us. We may be able to get out and re-commission the autopilot on the SimRad if the wind dies down later tomorrow. I don't use the autopilot when driving, but the Captain greatly prefers it. My goal for the day is simple: sleep in.

Boating apps

Figured I would list all of the apps I am using for our various boating needs. I have tried many and am now narrowing down which are most useful and user friendly. Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

1. Navionics: Fantastic navigation app. This is what our SimRad is using, often with mediocre results. However, the app is outstanding on my iPhone and offers a host of features. Very easy to use, even for a noob like me. Highly recommended.
2. Buoy Weather: I only have the free version and am unwilling to pay the premium for a subscription. It is great for quickly checking the wind and waves offshore. Since we never go offshore, utility is limited thus far. I like to check out of curiosity. It gathers information from the NOAA buoys and is highly recommended *by other boaters.*
3. Dockwa: This is necessary for many marinas to book a reservation for your slip.  Many marinas need to add more information about their facilities, but those that use it insist on booking this way versus a visit or a phone call. Highly recommended (and often essential).
4. Tides Near Me: I have tried several tide apps and this one seems to be the quickest and easiest. Open the app and it immediately loads the nearest tidal stations. A single click and you have the information you need. There may be a better app out there, but I haven’t found it yet. Note that many apps integrate things like tide schedules, but this app is great for quick checks when you just want to know when and where the water is running. Recommended.
5. MyRadar: I like this as a radar weather app. It is simple. Again, other apps will show and even overlay weather (it will slow your SimRad to a crawl), but this is quick and easy. There has to be a better way to have all of this information integrated, but until I figure it out, this app enables quick checks and forecasts and is Recommended.
6. Waterway Guides Marinas: this app was recommended on the boating forums. It looks fantastic for finding marinas. It was also recommended for watching hazard markers. You can only watch so many screens at once and I think Navionics has the hazards covered. Navionics also has a search function for marinas. Nonetheless, I love redundancy because you never know when something will fail to load or function properly, and this was recommended by other boaters with more experience than The Ralphs!
7. Anchor Watch: this app is simple and straightforward. I can’t imagine anyone not running an anchor alarm at night. You read about our anchor issues, so I deem this app or something equivalent critical for staying safe and enabling peace of mind for a good night’s sleep. Note that other apps have anchor alarms, and even our SimRad apparently has such a function. My phone is always with me and I may not hear a SimRad alarm going off at the helm when I am down in the v-berth with the door closed, air conditioning running, etc. Remember that the generator is running when you are anchored. Highly recommended, and in my opinion, essential. 
8. SeaNav: I just downloaded this app at the recommendation of Wanderlust (thank you Mike and Kathy). It is a navigation app that offers a ton of features, including the ability to search for and locate vessels globally via AIS information (try it and find all of the ships named Betsy around the world!) Highly recommended.

EDIT:  Many of these apps HAMMER the battery life on your phone. Either have a power cord and outlet at the helm, or keep a backup battery in your pocket. I learned from adventure riding motorcycles to always have a small pocket sized battery pack with me that I can quickly grab and plug into. It was $30 on Amazon and will recharge a dead iPhone several times. It is smaller than the phone itself. 

Heading up the Chesapeake

Tomorrow we head up the bay toward Annapolis. We were unable to connect with mechanics today, but managed to get organized and accomplish some of the easier tasks. We even had time to hit up a gastropub for some amazing burgers (for $5.. FIVE BUCKS!) and fresh cut fries. Huge thanks to GoSport Tavern! Captain Ralph found one of his favorite beers (Allagash White, bottled in Portland, ME) while I tried to hydrate with an ice cold water. Outside seating 6' apart b/c Covid in this area currently, but the Old Towne District was slowly coming to life. The further north we go, the higher the percentage of people wearing masks.

Betsy at our marina this afternoon:

All photos and videos up until now have been taken with iPhone X. A lot of the videos come from SnapChat as I also communicate with friends that way, many of whom can't be bothered with blogs, and of course we have to entertain the Millenials, who won't see even this insulting comment because they lack the attention span to read this far, if they were ever taught to read at all! (I jest. Established in '77, I am nearly a millennial myself and honestly identify with the group in a number of ways. Boomers step aside! And FYI no group is safe from being harassed by The Ralphs! Our blog, our voice. Keep reading at your own risk.)

Spotted another one of my favs at the marina. Unsure why I adore these boats, as I seem to be mostly alone. Does anyone know how they perform and whether they can take the water? Perhaps some of my new friends from YachtForums or TheHullTruth are owners and will chime in. I am dying to attend a major boat show so I can tour the insides of some big catamarans, sports fishers, etc. to get a better feel for the various layouts.

Captain Ralph wants to be off the dock by 6am. I stay up far too late for boating life. It is a long run tomorrow but we should have calm, open water and are planning to run our usual 18-20 knots. This will ensure that another couple hundred gallons of diesel flows down the gullet. The economic stimulus portion of our adventure continues to be a tremendous success! We are plotted all the way down the Delaware to a marina in Cape May, and intend to have all of our issues resolved before heading out into the swell up toward Atlantic City. Drone footage soon ;).

Notes on fueling

Diesel price dropped from $3.09 to $2.65/gallon over night! Never buy fuel on a holiday weekend. In fact, probably best to buy on the slowest day of the week. Apparently the waterway guide has the equivalent of GasBuddy for boats, so will download and give it a try. We took on another 285 gallons. The generator absolutely sips fuel, which is nice. Betsy on the other hand, is one thirsty girl! 0.73 miles per gallon yesterday, down from 0.86, but we ran harder and there was a lot of speeding up and slowing down which destroys fuel economy. 

We are at Ocean Yacht Marina. Fantastic service  thus far and they have a great facility. 

Good morning Portsmouth

Morning view. It is overcast, but finally I am not sweating at rest in the southern humidity. Hilarious that in a matter of days we will be cold! Eastport is still seeing the 40’s for temps. 

Back down into the engine bay this morning. We are going to try a few more tricks with these damn Racor’s since we are awaiting a slip at a different marina where they have fuel and mechanics anyway. This is our last chance to save some money on this issue! Next, we will focus on the voltage issue and finally make an attempt at fixing our one broken wiper blade (three separate windshields with different wipers on this boat). I need to redo lines and buoys, make more navigational plots, possibly adjust the idle on the Cummins engines, fix the kitchen and bathroom sinks... I would promise you drone footage again soon, but I think it is time to be realistic. There isn’t time for fun or recreation because just dealing with the boat is all-consuming. 

As for SPOT GPS - I give up. It turns off and logs out daily and breaks my link. I am tired of fixing it. Give us a call if you are wondering  where we are I guess! I will not be looking at it, addressing it, or acknowledging that this POS little device even exists moving forward. You can follow us via ASI using the Seanav app, IF the Captain is willing to leave the ASI turned on (he generally prefers his privacy). 

Questions? Comments? Concerns? I had a request for detailed pictures of the insides of Betsy. Anything else people would like to see? 

We reached the end of the ICW

Almost! About 5 miles to go and then we will head up the Chesapeake Bay and down the Delaware. We are stopped in Portsmouth, VA and hoping to meet some mechanics tomorrow morning to look at the air in our fuel system on the starboard side and to check out a low voltage issue. I think we have a dead battery on that bank. We don't want to take any chances once we start traveling on the outside, and apparently even the Chesapeake can get pretty wild.

Another Nordhavn for you, Z. Keep those puppy pictures coming and I will return the favor! It's no Dashew, but I do love these boats as well, particularly the styling with the Norwegian bridge.

I walked around the Old Towne district and past the naval museum this afternoon. We came by this ship hours earlier. They are truly massive up close.

There is a lot of traffic on the ICW in Virginia. We made good time drafting a sports fisher. I noticed once again that there were too many rods and no babes on board! We passed through some locks today. I had never seen this process before. The change in water level was barely even noticeable. They crammed in dozens of boats. Note to all- have your bumpers out and long lines prepared before you enter. The lock master is intolerant. Do NOT toss him your line. He grabs it with a hook and slips it over the pole for you while you hang onto the end of the rope. 

Those that know me, know I love puns:

There are waaaay to many things to snag your clothes on in, on, and around this ship! I was heading out to make a fantastic video for you, but stopped short to curse at a hook that costs you money but serves no purpose. The clothes I haven't snagged and ripped were ruined when the marina dryer deceivingly ran the delicate cycle on full hot. I have a nice Banana Republic polo tummy shirt up for grabs if anyone is interested in that style. I bet you could hitch a ride on a sports fisher wearing it!

Suck the marrow out of life!

What a day! By the time I sit down to write at night, so much has happened that I can't remember all of my ideas and stories. It is actually easier and more efficient to blog and post pictures through your Iphone, but the Google blogger app is not great (e.g., cannot post videos unless you upload them directly to youtube first and then paste in a link, whereas computer version of blogger does the upload in the background on your behalf). Bottom line- I should have used WordPress or something else, but there is no going back for this particular trip. This is more than sufficient for a couple of Ralphs who are merely attempting to entertain their family and friends! I do enjoy knowing I will have this blog saved to look back on down the road. I have a tendency to spend an inordinate amount of time thinking, reflecting, and churning (I call it "tycooning" and am happy to explain the concept), but have never really journaled on a regular basis. I appreciate why people find it meaningful and fulfilling.

Time is also an issue. Having a third set of hands would go a long way. Take out the blogging and it would be more manageable, but I do enjoy making the posts and love the comments and feedback we receive. A third set of hands would be useful on the ship in general, particularly when coming into port and when washing the damn boat!

There was a Sports Fishing tournament in Morehead City this weekend:

#BoatsNeedBikinis #SportsFishersNeverGetLaid

We got a solid night's sleep and planned and plotted over breakfast. We motored out of Morehead City around 9am and headed toward Norfolk, VA. It was already windy, so we didn't want to chance crossing Pamlico Sound just inside the coast. We did cross the southwestern portion of it as part of the ICW (Neuse and Pamlico Rivers) and even that was pretty rough. When we exited the Neuse into the sound, we had consistent 4-footers with no shortage of 6-foot, 3-wave bursts mixed in. Captain Ralph was fearless. I expected we would slow down and point the nose in the air when the waves picked up. He literally dropped the hammer! Let me put it this way: the sports-fisher that had been tailing us all morning disappeared into the horizon. We ran 21-22 knots head-on into the surf and Betsy didn't bat an eye. This is quite honestly the greatest compliment I can offer regarding this boat. She takes the water like nothing else. Doc's Holiday (Captain Ralph's previous motor yacht- a Chris Craft 501) couldn't touch Betsy in big water, not even close! It was less fun when we made the turn northwest to get out of the sound and the surf hit us on the side. Even then, Betsy was stout. The galley was a mess. Even the microwave crashed onto the floor! The toaster broke, but I think it still toasts. Fruit was rolling around on the floor. The back door was sliding open and closed (note to self, do not forget to put that pin in place). You do NOT want to be moving about the boat in this type of surf, as you need to keep your eyes focused on moving forward to avoid feeling seasick. The automatic pilot worked incredibly well until we turned broadside. It was smooth sailing once we got back on the ICW, aside from some traffic in the tight sections.

While his gal was fully clothed. Dude... you are doing it wrong. To get it right: #PhoneTheRalphs 

We are docked at the Alligator River Marina. It is a decent spot for the night. Don't eat the food!

I just learned about bumper boards. We need them. Taking donations. #SupportTheRalphs!

I do not love that my DNA is scattered about marinas all along the ICW!

Now, let us please discuss passing etiquette. Betsy didn't receive her usual compliments today. Instead of "beautiful boat" it was "are you kidding?" and "that was rude!" #BetsyIsFast. For the non-boaters... when in the ICW, particularly in the tight sections, the protocol is: radio to boat ahead as you approach their stern to request a pass, choose a side if they don't have a preference, and usually you make a "slow pass," particularly for the sailboats, which means you match and go slightly above their speed so as not to literally rock their boat. Once you are out front, you resume speed. I have been doing this all day every day for more than a week. The truth is, a lot of times this protocol is not followed. Out on more open water, it is no holds barred as there is plenty of room for your wake to dissipate. But even in the ICW where you think everyone would be radioing for passes, they often do not except in the tightest sections. MOST people do seem to make a "slow pass" as a default, but there is no shortage of people who throw wake carelessly. I am looking at you Sports-Fishers, Sea-Ray owners (aka gixxer squids), and now... Ralphie Props?!

I never hesitate to ask the Captain what to do. The gray zone is the problem for me. For example, if we are on a bay along the ICW, but there is still a channel and we can't be wide enough apart to completely ignore one another's wake, there is some inherent uncertainty in this ill-defined protocol. There are several issues at play. Many boats have dinghy's tied over their stern such that you cannot see the name of their vessel to hail them over the VHF. Many times, we DO hail but they don't have their radio on, aren't listening, or don't care. Sometimes a wave is thrown, but does that mean come on by however I want at full steam because you are bright enough to cut into my wake and don't really care or do you want me to pass slowly? Personally, I'd rather be passed while the faster boat is on plane, even when they are substantially larger than Betsy, because I can easily cut into their wake and avoid the rolling and it prevents me from having to slow down to enable their slow pass.

Another issue is that you have to maintain enough speed to get by the boat you are passing and may not be able to minimize your wake. Betsy puts out a huge swell when pushing water before she goes on plane. You don't want our broadside wake in close quarters at 12 knots! Further still, most cruisers fail to maintain what I would refer to as situational awareness. The ICW is a federal highway. You need to know what is coming up behind you, especially when you are one of the guys who seems to drift from side to side in the channel for no apparent reason. Example: today I was following a boat who was bouncing about and was about to hail when suddenly he cut from the far right to the far left in the channel. I ASSumed he saw me and wanted me to pass on his starboard side so I didn't bother requesting a pass. As I pulled up alongside, I was watching him carefully outside my window ready to cut back, when I saw him grab his radio and say "are you kidding?" I was already going to give a slow pass, but he did not slow down (remember the slow pass requires the slow boat to back off their throttle, which nobody wants to do). #BuyAHuckinsSoYouCanKeepUp

It is kind of like driving a car, when people drive slow in the fast lane and hold you up, then flip you off when you blow by them in the right lane. It is as if everyone wants you to travel at their same speed. I have never understood this phenomenon. Well, you guys know how Ralphie Wheels handles this situation (caution: corvette tires throw a lot of stones and by the time I have had to go out of my way to maneuver around you, all of my f*cks have been given, so maybe try actually paying attention to and following the relentless signage that says "keep right except to pass" because some of us take it to heart!). This guy was caught off guard when I pulled up beside him. Captain Ralph felt bad about the whole situation, but Ralphie Props chalked it up to that ship being piloted by a cranky old man who is probably well past his prime and likely should have turned in his Captain's license a decade ago when he could still see sufficiently. Not sure what to say. It isn't like I even rocked him with wake. #GetMovingOrGetOutTheWay #RalphieProps.

The "that was rude" comment came shortly after. Here, we were out in a wider section- a small bay with a center channel that was well marked with buoys. The slow boat was hugging the channel off my port side and running full steam (I would guess ~12 knots). I hugged the right side of the channel and kept Betsy on plane and watched him closely as I pulled alongside. I didn't radio and request a pass because there was plenty of room. Typically, in this situation, the other boat will cut their throttle to indicate they don't want wake, thus enabling my slow pass. I started to back off as we came even, waiting to see whether he would dial it back. He was staring right at me and maintained his speed, so naturally I stepped back on the gas assuming he didn't care and would cut into our wake just as I described I would do. Instead, moments later I got the "that was rude" over the VHF. I wish some of these folks would chime in on the blog and state their claim. Care to debate? Step up and go toe-to-toe with The Ralphs (and get crushed)!

If the boating industry and community has failed to develop an official protocol, then we all need to use a modicum of common sense, in my not so humble opinion. I think we are doing so aboard Betsy successfully. Hey, not everyone is going to like you and there is no shortage of people who (I know you will all gasp when you hear this) don't love and adore The Ralphs! I know, I know, it is quite honestly hard to believe ;). What do you want from us? Those people are invariably un-cool and as far as I am concerned, they are missing out. Life is short, fleeting, and unpredictable. Love as hard as you can, laugh for hours on end, live to the absolute fullest and make the most of every possible moment. Suck the marrow out of life!

Forgot the videos! I am waiting on the dryer anyway so here is more content. Please vote The Ralphs for bloggers of the year!

ICW weekend traffic for Memorial Day is out of control. I wished I could have taken a video on the way into Morehead City, but it was SO busy that I had to be on the ball.

Earlier in the day, we spotted Forest Gump's old ride:

Does this guy have more money or motor? I wonder if his last name is Props?

An absolutely gorgeous Huckins at the marina. 4 jet drives on a ship this size? I wonder if he gets as many compliments as Betsy (people hail us to send compliments like "man she cuts a beautiful line through the water" and several people we have met or spoken to know of the boat and its history of having been custom built for a retired Admiral with 3 outboard engines! That guy had it right!!!! If this guy kept up with teak-staining his deck he may get the praise Betsy receives ;). Doesn't this guy have any kids? Chime in if you were also slave labor during your youth! 

Not surprisingly, it exhibited all of the characteristics of a Huckins... (note I don't know anything about anchors, but when a 50,000-lb boat is supposed to be held down by a 50-lb anchor, well, I would describe that as using the wrong tool for the job!)

Now THIS was something. I never thought I would actually see a Dashew motor vessel in person. WHAT... A... GLORIOUS... DAY!!!!!

The video sucked because I was waving my arms to give him the "we are not worthy" sign. I would have kneeled out of respect, but didn't want to slip on the drool on the deck and fall in!

There are less than a dozen of these FPB 64's in the world. This is the pinnacle of marine engineering as far as I am concerned, and THE ONLY inboard-engined boat worth purchasing if you truly want to go out to sea as a non-commercial boater. Read all about it here:

DASHEW IS THE BEST MOTOR YACHT EVER MADE

I don't think this was one of the bigger Dashews. It is so understated and entirely utilitarian. Do you see any deck that requires teak staining? Paint? Varnishing? Absolutely awesome. I need to look this boat up. It was NOT "Cattitude" (go figure, that was a catamaran up ahead). The Dashew didn't have his ASI on. I tried to radio, intending to jump ship and blog for the nice family I saw on board. Surely some Dashew owner somewhere wants a doctor-lawyer as crew..?! Contact The Ralphs!

You can no longer commission the building of a Dashew... so I will have to look for one on the used market... the Dashew's retired to go cruising!

Stave and Linda Dashew bail and set sail

Click the links, love the Dashew

Captain Ralph claims to have spotted the Dashew's "Cochise" anchored at the harbor in St. Andrews, NB a year or two ago. Silly old man. He must have been into the irish whisky that night, or "Tullymore Dash-ew" as he likely referred to it! If I am ever TRULY balling and just don't know which drain to pour my cash down... it will be this one. They call it "ICEBERG" and it is quite simply, incredible:

Dashew Iceberg

Check out Dashew's YouTube channel. Listen to every word he says and remember it. You will never look at another boat the same. Flemings are for country club wankers who golf and eat quiche for brunch. Do you want to see the world, or work on your boat in between getting beat up by medium-sized waves? 

You guys are missing out big time!!! We will be reviewing internship applications over the long weekend. Space is limited so apply soon! 

Calling it a night

We got some groceries and Ralph ate Thai food.  “Thai Sticky Rice” restaraunt in Morehead city was decent, but not superb. Lunch at Beach Bumz pub was disappointing for me. Captain Ralph enjoyed his Hawaiian chicken sandwich, but they smothered it in cheese despite his request to withhold. They had amazing onion ultra-thin onion rings and fresh cut fries. Sadly, my shrimp tacos came with breaded, deep-fried shrimp so I tossed them straight into the trash. To the entire south: breading doesn’t belong anywhere near a shrimp. And stop with the damn deep frying. Just stop. 

Check out this Huckins at the marina. Unreal!

I checked in with Z and my home still stands. He sent me these photos and my heart is aching. Ivy is a red Doberman and Mia is a purebred Rottie. 

Look how happy this pup is! Stellar work Uncle Z!!!

Great day of boating today with no issues. Our fuel filters were plugged again so I switched them out this afternoon and also tightened the packing glands on the driveshafts. I also completely disassembled and rebuilt the Racor fuel filter housing on the starboard motor to fix the air leak (I see it coming out of the bottom edge of the centrifuge). No change, I am beginning to wonder whether air is getting in someplace OTHER THAN the filter housing. There is a steady stream of fine bubbles visible in the bowl.  Our port motor is using less fuel too. I could change fuel filters on this boat with my eyes closed by now!

Doing my laundry and hitting the hay. Spiking the Captains cocktail with melatonin in hopes he will sleep past dawn ;). 

Docked in Moorhead City

We just took on 300 gallons of diesel, and scored at $1.69/gallon. Finally we catch a break! It is nice to be pulled in early for a change. We need food and supplies and Betsy needs a bath. The marina has a rental car for $10 for two hours. Unreal. I have been paying $20-30 per Uber one way previously and the grocery stores are never within walking distance.    

You guys know how fanatical I am about sun exposure (and just about everything else for that matter- no comments!). You simply cannot escape out here. I am covered from head to toe with full Gilligan, and yet am still working on my tan:

One day these hands will be disgustingly wrinkled and covered in actinic keratoses *shudders*. This is one of the things I love about motorcycling- I can get out and enjoy the beautiful weather with complete sun protection. Keep in mind I am no boss on a hog or squid on a gixxer (sorry Brandon), so I am riding in full gear with armor and a tinted visor. 

Starving. More later. Oh, we spotted a tank beached on the side of the ICW:

My view all morning... we motored out at 930. Traffic on the ICW was just nuts! There was more wake than calm water. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, was grinning from ear to ear! 

Buy a boat! Or, better yet, meet a friend with a boat. The bigger the better!

From earlier this morning

Errr yesterday morning... at the Southport Marina... We needed some groceries and I fancied some drive-thru. As it turns out, there was one cab and it wasn't even a cab, just some guy driving his minivan. He gave me his cell number and told me to call when I was finished. It took him minutes to show up for the return trip!

Leaving Southport Marina, once again thanks to Zimmerman Marine:

OK, not really. The heights are usually labeled on the navigation. I mean, not on Simrad in this case. If the tide was higher, we would have needed a draw!

The ICW is a federal highway, or so I am told. Doesn't that mean minimum speed limit 45 mph?

Another shout out to Simrad: Dock-to-dock auto routing works great, except when it directs you across land. Seriously?  The channel is on the left, dudes. Will they blame Navionics (the mapping software company)? I figured they would... so naturally I made a pre-emptive strike! On the Navionics app on my phone, the route was in the middle of the channel. You can't make this stuff up. 

The best part of the day: somebody got Ralph'd. Papa bear was grinning from ear to ear as he blew into our wake at full speed, elated at the thought of dumping his kids off that tube. Funny, I remember Captain Ralph doing the same thing to us at that age, only we rode a torpedo instead of a tube. 

I forgot I made this video. I feel more strongly than ever about this now that our engines stalled at the worst possible moment AGAIN. Is adjusting the idle on these Cummins engines a complex task? Where is that damn intern anyway?! They are dipping under 400 rpm on the tachometer when you slip them into gear. A guy who knows what he was doing set the idles! Perhaps it protects the transmissions or driveshafts. How the hell does this stuff even work? I mean diesels don't even have spark plugs. Fired by trucker farts? If you dump it on your leaves and toss a match it won't even burn. True story! (The answer is high pressure and a sustained flame FYI). 

I am sure I can look up information on these Cummins engines tomorrow. I know the Captain has a binder full of manuals. But for now, I am completely spent. It is 3:27 and I awoke at 6:05 this morning. Errrr yesterday morning. I don't even know what day it is. Is it today or tomorrow? Is tomorrow today? In know it is Memorial Day weekend because of the boating traffic in the ICW. I hope my dogs and chickens are fed Z! Continue to hold down the fort!!!

Out of order

Not Betsy, the blog! Today's post will follow this evening's story. It is 2:30am. We found an anchorage at Mile Hammock Bay. It is well protected and 10' deep throughout. We cruised in late around 6-630 and dropped anchor. I retreated to the V-berth to meditate, but it didn't last long. I could hear the wind picking up and suddenly the Captain was shouting- I could sense his concern. By the time I got to the helm, I knew we were in actual trouble. A thunderstorm had rolled in and within seconds our anchor was dragging and Betsy was spinning. Dad ran to reel in the anchor and told me to take the controls and keep us off the other boats. It was pitch black out. I could barely see the other boats, only their anchor lights were visible, but they saw we were moving and quickly turned their lights on. I could see that Captain Ralph was motioning something, but couldn't hear a thing and could only see which direction he was pointing when the lightning flashed! We needed to get over top of the anchor and the wind was blowing strong. The engines BOTH stalled as we drifted back toward another vessel. Holy crap what an adrenaline rush! We switched positions as the anchor is heavy when covered in mud. I swear I ripped that thing off the ocean floor in a matter of a few arm lengths. It landed on the deck with a thud and nearly onto my foot! Fingers crossed I didn't cause any damage, but frankly I couldn't have done anything differently in that moment. The Captain righted our ship and we motored around a bit to avoid other boats until the storm passed. Good, bad, or ugly, this kind of epic intensity will make you feel alive. Note to potential interns: we have an iron-clad liability waiver and signing is non-negotiable!

Somebody asked for AIS? The Ralphs know when to let big brother watch our backs! Hell I would have preferred an angel. If anyone has the sweet hookup, call me ASAP at IWA - SSC - ARED. 

We again set anchor when the wind calmed down but were beyond paranoid as there were other storm cells in the area. Check the news. You would never have known with the beautiful day of motoring we had!

We set up our radar and plotter so we could monitor the relative positions of Betsy, the surrounding anchored vessels, and the shore line. I set an anchor alarm (AnchorWatch app) and checked the tides. Unwilling to take a chance, we decided to maintain night watch. I sent the Captain to bed since he is an incredibly early riser and could take over in the wee hours of the morning. I am here writing now to pass the time, but am looking up every other sentence to view the closest boat and check the radar screen to ensure we aren't drifting. The Captain sauntered up around 145 and I assured him all was well. I don't see any more weather coming in tonight and tomorrow looks calm. I couldn't sleep if I had to. WHAT A RUSH! If you want to get the juices flowing (thank you Bob Bitchin'), I highly recommend anchoring out in a storm.

WANTED: Crew!

Still tied at the dock but getting kicked out within the hour as we are occupying someone’s slip. The steering is as good as it is going to get, but we will need some parts for a permanent fix. Captain Ralph is on the phone with Huckins and some Australian guy in NYC and anyone with an  idea. Speaking of which, anybody have one?

Will hire crew! Join the adventure in the penultimate internship! You won’t make much (ok, you won’t make anything) but the experience will be invaluable. You will receive letters of recommendations from two fine physicians and a soon to be attorney and you will go far. If you have never been boating, it is calm, relaxing, and care free!* I will feature you on the blog and you will have an exclusive, all-access pass to The Ralphs and their adventure lifestyle. No experience necessary. Preference given to Cummins diesel mechanics and marine electricians. We are an (UEOE) unequal opportunity employer. Benefits are inumerable. 

*no guarantees... absolutely, none.

Plagued with issues

The power steering system has air in the hydraulic lines (ratchety steering since day 1, and this morning we lost rudder control entirely while on autopilot). Talk about spooky. Apparently, it was bled by a guy who knows what he is doing prior to leaving Jacksonville. As far as I can tell, there is no reservoir in the system, no purge valve, not so much as a bleeder screw. The Captain says Zimmerman Marine will come look in the morning.

The Simrad is still ultra-laggy. I tried a software update but it was already current. I installed it again anyway. No change. I can plot courses, but if it can't keep up it is only useful for forward sonar and the depth gauge. Maybe we should try our radar now, before we are stuck in a fog bank (note to self check radar tomorrow morning). I searched all over online and many individuals have the same problem with this same unit. It seems most people had to have Simrad switch out their display. We will call them tomorrow to see if it is still under warranty.

NOTE TO ALL BOATERS: BUY GARMIN. DO NOT BUY SIMRAD. 

NOTE TO SIMRAD: IF YOU ARE READING THIS, YOU ARE DANGEROUSLY CLOSE  TO GETTING SH-TWITTERED ON AMERICAN AIRLINES-STYLE BY THE RALPHS. DON'T MAKE US RALPH ON YOU!!!!!!!!

Seriously if this thing doesn't come to life I am climbing up onto the radar to paint over the Simrad decal that advertises their POS product. It is as if it connects to the satellites via a dial-up modem. I have money on an undisclosed Simrad-AOL partnership. When the anti-trust suit hits the Wall Street Journal, be sure to tell everyone you heard it from The Ralphs first! 

How about some pics and vids from today? Here a 66' something or other amazingly cool boat blew by us and rocked Betsy like a rubber ducky. They are here at the marina just down the dock, but I am guessing they got here many hours sooner. They were traveling about 30 knots up the ICW in this monster.

Don't believe me? There is ALWAYS a bigger, faster boat. This is what they do to the 50 footers:

(OK the table was like that for engine maintenance, but a bottle of water fell off the counter!)

We saw lots of cool stuff today. Myrtle Beach is impressive. Countless mansions along the ICW. Here are a few of my favorite shots:

     

 

These houses reminded me of the Chiclet houses in St. John's, Nfld:

American Airlines I refuse to let this go. What an embarrassment. #FlyDelta. Anyway, now you guys know where to find the coldest crappy beer on the ICW! 

I loved these ships. The first was along the Waccamaw River, which was the coolest section of the ICW yet. The trees were tight, the channel was narrow, and there were non-stop switchbacks for an hour. I was lusting after one of those go fast boats. I am convinced I could blow roost right over the trees!

Dad loved this tree. For those of you who don't know, he used to have an obsession with taking photos of dead trees. At least he has moved on to living specimens!

Our humble abode in suite C8:

This should help everyone who is unfamiliar with NC get their bearings:

Why oh why do I not carry Wall Drug signs? They really need one! If you don't know of the place, well, you must never have road-tripped anywhere out West. This was all at the Fishy Fishy Cafe, which was DELICIOUS! Ralph highly recommends the peel and eat shrimp. 

I made a new friend. He didn't like selfies but I forced him!

Let's get back to discussing fueling. Sigh. We changed the filters and fired up the twin Cummins. Everything seemed to be intact. Everything BUT the fact that the starboard engine has a clear air leak in the bowl that increases with engine speed. The next step is to disassemble the bowl and check the gaskets for a pinch and the housing for cracks. The clamps on the lines are tight as are all of the bolts attached to the Racor housings. Ralph didn't want Ralph to disassemble the bowl because it was recently put together by a real diesel mechanic (a guy who knows what he is doing). As if the price gouging isn't enough with these marinas, boating outfitters, mechanics, etc they can't even get the damn work done properly. None of this is complicated: basic fuel lines and filtering, simple hydraulic hose setup for the steering with two lines and a single pump... and yet because it is attached to a boat it is somehow $pecial and co$t$ far more than it $hould. (BEEP. BEEP. BEEEEEEEEP! Cha-ching!) I ought to reach out to some of those southern plantation underwater farmers to see if they take a similar beating. Fingers crossed that Zimmerman Marine comes through again- our generator is running like a champ!

At least we know the filters are fresh. Listen to the sweet sound of success (hearing protection and non-rebreather-vapor mask required). You really need to be down in there to get the full experience. Everything is rumbling. This was before I realized we still had some air getting in on one side...

The Ralphs were reminiscing about Ralphie Props's childhood. Man I could convince my brother Nick to get in some trouble. Now he is 6'2 and has nearly a hundred pounds on me and I refer to him as "sir." Do yourself a favor and keep your gloves and helmet on if you step on the ice with this guy. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. It won't be easy to pick up your teeth with broken fingers!

We passed through two swing bridges today:

The HMM container ship was impressive, even from afar. The video does this no justice. It looked like a mountain on the horizon. I tried to convince Captain Ralph that ol' Props could get out ahead of it. Luckily for HMM, our marina was just south of this crossing.

I have been blogging for nearly a full week, and yet some people fail to recognize the Power of The Ralphs and attempt to pass at full tilt, only to have their asses handed to them. We need stickers or cards or something to hand out. "You've been Ralph'd" might work, but let me sleep on it. Man I am beat. Boating is just too relaxing!